Thank you all for taking part and asking questions of the Mayor (Ken Laban) and Councillors on Monday evening last, as we initiated conversation regarding the Long Term Plan 2027-2037. Council decided some time ago to take the ‘right path’ this time and ask first, instead of conjuring up the written document and THEN coming out for consultation. To date we have visited many businesses, interest groups, marae and elder people’s forums. It is evident there is a real desire to keep cost of living, particularly around escalating rates, to an acceptable manageable status.
To some, what was once considered a ‘nice to have’ has become a future forecast for more consideration. There is no doubt we have some really difficult decisions ahead of us given that Central Government has set a rates cap of between 2.9 – 4% meaning a city such as ours cannot sustain the level of assets we currently have.
What came out at a meeting I attended this morning, was how important groups such as Rotary have in the lives of those who have a real desire to feel included when all around them appear to be struggling. A connected community is a thriving community. We just need to find different ways of doing things.
Glenda